I have a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree. I graduated at the top of my class and was awarded a pretty little plaque with my name engraved that read “Outstanding Academic Achievement in the Criminal Justice Program” The plaque was awarded by Faculty to one student each year. Yay me! I also have a Certificate in Paralegal Studies and an Associate in Arts Degree. But, guess what? I’ve NEVER worked in Criminal Justice, law enforcement or for an attorney. I’ve drafted a LOT of divorce, parenting and other court documents and quick deeds though! For free, of course! What’s my point here? Well, why is my degree in something that I’ve never used and what should I have done differently, if anything? Bottom line, my College Advisor was a former attorney and the head of the Criminal Justice Department. She was a wonderful woman, role model and mentor.

Although I told my family at the age of four that I was going to someday be a Lawyer, and I’m sure that had some weight on my decision to enter the Criminal Justice field of study, I admit, the respect and admiration that I had for my Advisor was a leading factor. Four years later she awarded me that plaque, I had my degree and I moved on. Ultimately, my career path took some pretty drastic turns and an extreme deviation away from anything law related from running a Senior Center and Meals on Wheels Program to reading and coding media clips in an entry-level position to eventually becoming the Director of Research at that particular PR Measurement firm and picking up an Adjunct teaching position in Office Technology to eventually working in media marketing and social media in a variety of capacities It’s been an interesting road and I don’t regret it for a second, but when I look back at all the steps I took and turns I made, I have to wonder if there wasn’t something I missed along the way (like a shortcut?).

That’s why when Grown Up Me offered me their product for free in return for this review I jumped on the chance!

I found it interesting the the results that I received matched me quite well in terms of the careers that I already have (Postsecondary Teacher, Writer) and one that has ALWAYS been interesting to me “Sociologists.” In addition to what I “should be when I grow up” Grown Up Me also gives me insights on how much money I’ll need to earn to sustain my lifestyle based on where I want to live and the things that I’d like to do on my down time. Additionally once I chose a career/education focus, Grown Up Me lists colleges that would be a good match for me based on location, Educational programs offered and even campus size and student/teacher ratio.

Here are my results:

About Grown Up Me
In talking with schools, counselors, and students, we found a lot of challenges and questions surrounding the college selection process:

1. Students choose a school based on friends’ advice or sports teams, without thinking about what they want to do with their lives.

2. Counselors don’t have the resources to help every student choose a college and career path, and many students prefer to do it themselves.

3. Students go off to college without long-term goals or a clear understanding of how their career will impact budget and lifestyle decisions.

From their site:

“Grown Up Me isn’t an aptitude test. Sure, we want to know what you’re good at, but we also want to know what makes you happy. Our interactive lifestyle assessment takes into account everything that makes you unique, from your preferred work environment and ideal living situation to how you spend your free time. Your answers generate a list of career opportunities that meet both your professional and lifestyle goals. From there, you can explore education and training options to create a solid plan for your future.”